Sony offers NEX-5N adjustment for users experiencing video clicking

Sony has posted a note on its support site saying it will modify NEX-5N cameras of users troubled by clicking noises during video recording. The company points out that the phenomenon only occurs: 'if the camera undergoes sudden motion while recording; motion generally inconsistent with smooth video recording.' But has said it will make an 'adjustment' to the cameras (during the warranty period) of users who feel they're likely to encounter the issue. The company doesn't say that only people combining jogging with their videography need apply, but...

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(cont'd) Conclusion? I think this problem may have been rectified to a certain extent by Sony, but it's still there. I would probably say that the last unit i tested would work under normal shooting conditions but it real sudden movements were made, the 'click' would still be audible.

Hope this helps others who were eagerly awaiting purchase of this camera.If possible, please test it thoroughly at a retail outlet before committing to purchase

After reading from some blogs that this issue had been resolved, I took the bold move of buying this camera at a fair today. Since it was too noisy to check whether the problem persisted, i had to trust the Sony sales rep, who claimed that the 'new' batch doesn't have this problem anymore.

Took it home, and even before i could power it up, the 'clicking' sound was audible by gently panning & rotating the camera. Yes, i emphasize the word gently. Brought it back to the fair, and after much arguing, managed a full refund.

He then brought 3 other units, all of which had the similar clicking noise.The last unit that was showed to me (claimed that it was from the latest batch which arrived a week ago) also had the clicking noise, however it was much lesser in comparison.

Found a NEX 5N in an unsold state here in Calgary Canada,( that is a lucky find by the way) could not test filming but did hear a metalic click when holding the camera to my ear and gently tilting it back and forth. The clerk told me there will be no new shipments for the next two months according to the Sony rep. so once they are sold out there will be no more this year. I asked them to put it on hold for me over night.I than contacted Sony to see what can be done if I was to buy the camera and it did indeed click, where I would send it, how long it would take etc...They responded to my email very quickly saying no clicking complaints were reported in Canada and I should buy with confidence.I am sure they will fix it, should it click, but why are they deniying the problem? My gut tels me dont buy and wait till next year.

I recently gave up on the camera like Sony NEX 5N, Sony HX9V, etc expecting them to be "like" professional video devices. Why? Because they are not. It will be always something about them that make customers not happy. In this case it's a clicking noise which Sony refuses to fix properly. I'm not sure whether something similar will happens to new NEX7. Anyway. I got Nikon D7000 for stills and Canon XF100 for video. Very happy now. No half-backed units anymore.

@lancespring: That is not entirely true - it does not have a standard connector for an external mic, but one of the accessories you can get from Sony for the NEX-5N is an external microphone, which plugs in on the external flash connector on the top.

I had to return my NEX-5N It was clicking even when I was standing still and not moving, and also gave bursts of clicking when not only I was stationary, but also when I was not doing any panning either. So at least on my NEX-5N, the problem was quite severe and unacceptable.

Here is a video that I recorded, showing how I would get clicking even when I was standing still and not panning the camera:

I am with Lance on this one. I do not believe there was anything loose in there. The clicking on my camera sounds electronic. My guess is that they are just adding a noise clipping filter to the audio software until they can figure it out.

I have the same problem here, just called SONY and they are not owning up to it. First of all, they don't tell you what they are planing on doing, it's just an adjustment. Now I tested the problem and I wasn't on a trampoline doing back flips. I was slowly walking with the camera and you would get a constant click. Sites like this one needs to put the pressure on Sony and issue a DO NOT BUY until they come clean with what the issue is and what they are doing to fix it. I live on the east coast and all sony is doing is sending you a shipping label for ground to go to texas (pretty much 4 days each way, plus 5-7 days to work on the camera. I had to to make a big deal just to be able to get them to upgrade to overnight shipping. And do not send your camera in the original box because they will trash it when they receive it, per customer relations person.

Unfortunately, that may be precisely what thos click-free 5Ns turn out to be: a 5N with a tissue or patch stuck in, plus a cut in the mic sensitivity. Liveable, perhaps, if the dampening does not leave the audio low qualilty.

As for resale value, the true test is the price you'd get from the people who say the worries about the clicking are false or overblown. Hmmm. Does that mean they'd pay close to full retail price? Don't count on it.

I called Sony this morning and got processed a return for a "Adjustment" not a repair because Sony thinks that is NOT a problem. The "adjustment" only can reduce the clicking noise and cannot eliminate it.

My 5N clicks also. :( And it's not only when I do sudden jerking movements with the camera or panning too fast. It seems if I pan the camera a little quick at first and then continue slowly moving, it continues clicking. So it's not just with rapid or vigorous movement. Click click clickGot a Sony 5NMove too quickGotta shoot again

Shame on you Sony for not advising all to have this blatant product defect repaired. All your advertisements point to the action capabilities of the Sony 5n.

For you, the video capabilities of the 5n are perfectly fine if your sitting at your seat shooting video of your 5 year old at the school play. So what happens when your kid turns 7 and you're the proud parent at the front row getting up to shoot video of his game? Surprise! The camera has just turned the excitement of the situation into... Go go Br..click..an click ou click can do click. And your warranty just expired.

And it might be fine if you are on a safari shooting elephants walking across a stream, but as soon as you take the rainforest tour of Costa Rica and see monkeys swinging from tree to tree and decide to pan fast you get the annoying click click.

Why even have video image stabilization in the camera?

You're terrible Sony, you could sell your overpriced products before because your reputation was excellent.

The problem is in the design, not where the units were made. The other problem is that product testing (and reviews) give scant attention to audio, either because people don't think it matters, or because it's assumed that any serious video would involve external mics or separate recording.

I have handle two different Nex 5n's at two different camera stores neither camera had the clicking sound . I tried panny in both still and video modes , normal panny speeds and vigorous shaking of the cameras no clicking. I think Sony knows exactly what was screwed up in assembly and or bad parts that need to be correct in the camera and fix the issue. I think Sony is trying to stay ahead of the classic action law suits will get larger media play (outside the camera community). In the U.S. Sony's (unfairly) got a bad reputation for selling over price electronics no longer made in Japan in the third world assemble plants with dubious quality records . Sony a big company a N.J. or NY. attorney general love to free publicity filing a consumer law suits against. So for once I think Sony's doing the smart thing a offering to fix the busted part/ assemble issue causing the clicking issue if you got a bad camera. As Clint Eastwood once said in a spaghetti western "Bravo" Sony.

Firstly, I have a Canon 5D II and a Canon HD video camcorder. The 5N in most ways is better than either or both. I've shot hours of video with the 5N, reviewed it closely, never got a single click. So last night I took it out and shook it pretty vigorously on video, and yeah, I can hear clicks. The picture doing this is not even close to usable, a shaky incomprehensible mess.

I take a lot of video & try pretty hard to keep the camera steady. But I do walk around with it & film the kids etc. On one shot my kids were in a push car tearing around the driveway in circles. I sat in the center & panned the camera halfway around, then quickly panned the camera in the other direction to pick them up circling around again, repeat. No clicking. So, again, it's a violent shake that produces this phenomenon.

But, from the sound of it there may be some cameras where the problem is worse than mine and occurs at lower accelerations. For me it's completely a non-issue. Awesome camera.

Eric Peltzer: "...I have a Canon 5D II and a Canon HD video camcorder. The 5N in most ways is better than either or both."

You don't say? How so? The reasons would be more interesting than what you say about the (according to you) non-problem of clicks, for which there is evidence others can observe.

Anyway, are you telling the world Sony should not have bothered to offer a fix, or that you won't take the trouble to get it?

Not many EP postings in the last 11 years. Why all the bother to defend Sony over something you claim is a non-issue? If you think Sony has been done wrong, then by all means upload your click-free action video samples.

I hadn't shot any video with my 5n, but when I read there was clicking issues I took it out for a quick test. Mine clicks when I slowly move it from horizontal to vertical or do anything faster then a slow pan shot. Hopefully the repair / fix will correct the issue. Sounds like some cameras are better than others...

The 5N is too good of a camera to turn your back on due to the clicking. Most will not even use the video function anyway. Regardless it is worth returning to get fixed even though my 5N is temp till the 7 arrives.

This is not the "PR Mess" you think. Sony has done the right thing and they will do quite nicely.

"Most will not even use the video function anyway" - HUGE assumption. The specs of the 5N include 50fps 1080p video, one of the few cameras that offer this right now. A lot of people are looking closely at this for precisely this reason, as well as a few others (APS-C DoF, ISO performance, manual controls, EVF..)

So for those who do video, this IS a huge PR mess (never mind a QA disaster - heads will definitely roll). It seems to me that rather than 'do the right thing', they have 'bowed to the inevitable', as evidenced by their wording. The recall should be unconditional.

Haw, haw. Yeah. Haw, haw. I'll wager you're a bit off the mark, as well as less than candid.

You can also drive a car without an odometer, A/C, or seatbelts. Use an umbrella if the roof leaks. Who listens to the radio, so why care if it doesn't work. Just whistle your own tune! Buy your own spare tire if the one supplied is no good. Tape on a flashlight if the headlights don't work. But, goll-durnit, you'd return the darn lemon car in 24 hours if it had a rattling or clicking noise.

Nice that Sony offer a fix.But would be interesting to know what the issue was and how they fixed it.And how can we be sure when we buy the camera that it is updated?Also interesting to read what people report when they have had their cameraupdated by Sony.

Anyway, good. So now I just hope for a firmware update later that giveus audio gain control in video mode.

This is a real shame. It is going to be expensive because the user is almost forced to send in the camera, unless the user plans to keep the camera until it dies of old age, and I'm sure Sony has sold a lot of these already. This is a case where I wish they had ignored the "problem". My concern is that the "fix" will have a negative effect on photos. It's a great little camera. In any case, I will wait until the end of the warranty period, so as to avoid the rush.

The clicking can be heard in my camera even with smooth panning or slight tilting from one side to the other. It's definitely there and can be annoying if you're looking for it.

I tested the camera several times on video clips to make sure I wasn't just jerking the camera or rubbing a metal clip or something on the body, but nope it's there and it doesn't require jerking around in a lot of cases.

My Nikon D70 also clicks if I shake it about a bit. It doesn't affect me as I don't use it for video recording :)It worried me the first time I heard it, until I worked out that it was just the tilt switch (which records the picture orientation). Maybe it is the same thing in the Sony?

Seriously ? I just couldn't wait to put my hands on a 5N and now Sony wants me to send it back to them ? Are they kidding me ?Fortunately, I barely use the video function but on the other hand I have to say that I'm deeply disappointed with Sony. How could they miss the "clicking" ? This is not something which appears after a year or two or after extensive usage. It seems that almost every 5N has the same issue. How could they miss it ?!The only REAL solution would be to offer owners and exchange: Sony sends customers a new camera and they send the old one back within a certain time frame. Of course this won't happen, it would cost Sony a fortune but this would be the ONLY way how to handle this whole mess.

"Sound like your are a spoiled kid, this is an example of a perfect service."

Perfect service? They did just what they had to do to avoid more expensive and damaging consequencies, like law suits and more severe loss of reputation. Perfect service would be to first send the customer a replacement camera, and then take the malfunctioning one back. Customers have just purchased a new camera, and now they have to spend a minimum of one week (often probably two) without it, and send the camera back at their own cost.

For anyone with just a bit of elementary education in video recording there is no issue.This is not pixel peeping - this is way worse - in normal shooting situations, regular panning, and moving, there is no clicking.Only if you start shaking it - or moving it quite dast teh way you would normally do, you would here the sound.I have few hours already with it, and never heard a click/I will fix it, too, but mostly for the resale reasons. And I am sure it will be a proper fix as Sony doesn't need this kind of PR.

This point is completely moot. It's a design flaw and it doesn't require quick or wild movement to produce the "click".

I've you somehow managed to receive a camera that's performing better than the average in terms of "clicking", you should be happy, and you should NOT take advantage of this fix that is intended for those having a problem. You're kinda contradicting yourself, not only in terms of not having the problem but still fixing it but also by defending Sony and then still waste their money.

Oh, because it does require suddent movement on your camera, it's the same with everybody elses? You seem to imply, that every product defect always manifests itself equally, and if one example of a product doesn't have the defect, none of them does.

"Also it is only noticable when ambient sound levels are very low."

So don't shoot those quiet moments? Sing while you shoot? Mix some rap, techo, rock etc. to your finished video?

Until any of you "FAIL" whiners complaining that "this is not a fix" send your camera in for a fix, get it back, and do more test videos to see what the results are, you have no idea how effective it will be. So stop complaining, send your cameras in and get em fixed. Until then simmer down. This "adjustment" may be plenty adequate. Or not. Just be patient. Expecting them to re-engineer the internals aint gonna happen.

This not a fix. They will just shoe horn some dampening thing inside the camera body. Clicking will still be evident just not as noticeable. Why would you want to give them your brand new 5N to disasemble anyways.

Option 3 would be cheapest for Sony, since so many appear willing to do that for free. Some of them also insist that the whinners simply don't know how to hold a camera perfectly still, or are stupid to shoot video anyway. Nice advice, indeed.

I sold my D700 last month because I was sure the D700/800/700S etc. was coming out soon.

Duhhhhhhhhhhh, the price of new and used D700's went through the roof and no replacement in sight. So, I am sitting on the cash and waiting. i did not shoot often with the D700 (My favorite photo tool ever!) But I miss it non the less. I hope the replacement comes out soon.

Actually there are numerous reports and complaints of a similar sound occurring when Canon (and some other) cameras are moved erratically while shooting video.

Seems to have something to do with the orientation sensor in many cameras and is amplified by the built in mike. It may not be quite as noticeable in a DSLR which has a bigger body to absorb the sound or in cameras with a less sensitive mike.

It's not about that, it's about capturing what you intended to capture. "Sudden motion" might be exactly the effect you are trying to achieve, but I can almost certainly guarantee that a random clicking noise coming from the camera is not.

Saving Private Ryan, Beach Landing Scene is jerky, handheld and awesome. Far be it for me to suggest anyone's making an equivalent to that but, there are genuine reasons for needing hand held shots, and this camera can't be used for that without clicking (unless this fix works)

first off all there were footages of 5n that shows that the noises occur even with reasonable panning speed (not just shake vigorously left and right) and yes, some some professional videos do use wild panning on purpose. see the movie Cloverfield trailer for sample. http://youtu.be/ufYF0f-zMgY

Some professional videos may use wild panning - but I don't think Sony designed the NEX5n for shooting professional video - they make other cameras for that.

This is hardly a "defect" as it doesn't stop anything from working. It may be annoying - like driving an inexpensive car where something rattles when it hits a bump, but nobody expects a car like that to be as quiet as a Rolls Royce. Anyway Sony are doing the right thing by offering a fix.

Exactly. This camera (without the click) would be a great camera for documentary film making, especially in the direct cinema style, wherein the use of hand held shots, with diagetic sound is pretty much essential. Seeing as the only sound options are in camera mikes (useless) or one of the attached mikes (by all reports not a complete fix) , the clicking noise will be present (until fixed) in almost all footage. Now.. If you have no in pushing your camera to the limits, and are happy with static shots, or you want to dub music over everything (which of course does NOT work for all film styles), then by all means go for it. I for one will wait and see what the fix is, then I may repurchase. But right now.. the NEX7 with an external mike input looks a lot more tempting.

documentary film work? you cant be serious. the camera will overheat with continuous shooting... are you going to buy a few of them to switch around? and why are you not using an external recorder to begin with, the external mic is a field mic and not meant for that type of work. not to mention there are no audio controls. geez.

11:49 PM Luke - (C3L3): Hi. Welcome to Sony Online Support. My name is Luke. Please allow me a moment to review your concern.11:49 PM Customer: thanks11:52 PM Luke - (C3L3): Thank you for waiting. I'm sorry that clicking sound is coming from this Camera . I'll be glad to assist you with this.11:52 PM Luke - (C3L3): When did this first start occurring?11:54 PM Customer: I bought camera 1 week ago. And 2 days ago I tried make video when I walk ... 11:54 PM Customer: I hear it every .. 2 sec..11:55 PM Luke - (C3L3): Okay.11:56 PM Customer: I though I have wrong settings , but then I have read article on dp review that this is official defect11:56 PM Luke - (C3L3): Please let me know if the sound is coming from Camera while taking picture.11:57 PM Customer: can it be fix without sending to you ? some how ... by firmware ?...

11:57 PM Customer: I think not ... I tried take video at home I hear clicking when I playback only12:00 AM Luke - (C3L3): I have documented your contact and we will update you with the results of our assessment once it is completed.12:01 AM Customer: How long it will take ?12:03 AM Luke - (C3L3): I'm sorry we don't have exact time of reference.12:03 AM Luke - (C3L3): However, it will be released in near future.12:03 AM Luke - (C3L3): If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at: (800) 222-7669.12:03 AM Customer: we are talking about firmware or I will have to send the camera to you for repairing ?12:05 AM Luke - (C3L3): I suggest that please contact at (800) 222-7669 for further information.12:05 AM Customer: Ok12:05 AM Luke - (C3L3): As we don't have more information about it.12:06 AM Luke - (C3L3): If you need any additional information feel free to stop by our chat room again using the same email address

Some do have massive clicking, others don't. So possibly a tolerance in manufacturing?Sony offers to fix it, so that is actually positive! Things like that do happen. So now buying a 5N is ok for me -))I think some negative responses way over top. BTW, Mercedes hat tolerance issues with their brake assistance switch in the pedal. Now THAT was an issue for complaining.

"saving private ryan??? really? i was hoping someone would link a youtube video from a consumer grade camera where jerking the camera around significantly improves the video"

You were given a high class example, where significant "jerking" improves the video. If it's considered good enough for a large hollywood production, it's probably good enough for a home video.

Your original comment was "show me a video where sudden motion improves the video". You were of course trying to prove that one can't do anything cinematically meaningful with sudden camera motion (you are not a movie afficionado, are you?). Your attempt was naturally a failure (which any movie goer could have told you in advance).

The clicking can occur with modest hand motion. A slight tilt in the camera plan causes a ball or switch to swing. It is like one of those little games where you tilt a card to guide a ball towards a hole, but a slight tilt the wrong way causes it to roll and knock something. Gravity does not cease to govern if you are only 0.5 degrees off a perfectly level plain.

Yet, there are people who deny this and any other possible imperfection in their dream toy.

I had to return my NEX-5N It was clicking even when I was standing still and not moving, and also gave bursts of clicking when not only I was stationary, but also when I was not doing any panning either. So at least on my NEX-5N, the problem was quite severe and unacceptable.

Here is a video that I recorded, showing how I would get clicking even when I was standing still and not panning the camera:

I have the same problem, just so-called SONY, they don't have it. First of all, they don't tell you what they are doing, and it is just a plane adjustment. Now I test question, I didn't do flip trampoline. I walked slowly and camera, you will get a constant click. Such sites need to put the pressure of the SONY and problems, and a do not buy, until they are they doing to fix it with what is the question, what clean.http://www.mybatteriescharger.com/al-digital-camera-battery-sony-cyber-shot-dsc-h10-cc1-b.htm

My camera has absolutely unusable sound on the video in any situation.The audio is just a stream of engine noise, machine noise. If I record with tape over the inputs it appears to be slightly reduced.I hear complaints about this click, which I also get, but I get machine noise when the camera is on tripod.I am interested in a camera which can take video without having to set up separate sound recording.As far as I am aware the Nex 7 and Nex 5r are no improvement.Good Video with machine noise audio is uselesspaulscottfilms@yahoo.co.nz